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Tag: Real Madrid

  • El Clasico: Barca coach wary of Madrid, plays down Ronaldo’s absence

    Barcelona manager, Ernesto Valverde, has said playing against their arch rivals, Real Madrid in Sunday’s El Clasico, could be the perfect time for Julen Lopetegui’s side to rediscover their form.
    Real Madrid have failed to win a game in their last four LaLiga fixtures.
    “For that reason I’m wary of what they can do tomorrow (Sunday),” Valverde said during his pre-match conference on Saturday.
    “There have been times when Madrid have been brilliant in their collective play, in possession, in attack.
    “They have enough weapons to be able to overcome the absence of an important player like Cristiano [Ronaldo].
    “The same is true with us and Leo [Messi].
    “We have to recognise each other when we play. That is key. We do it with and without Messi.
    “That’s what we learnt last year, that we are all together and we are stronger for it.
    “We come into this on the back of two good games and now we have this match to top it all off.
    “The key to victory will be how we play, not momentum.”In the end we know what Madrid are like.
    “The more wounded they are, the more dangerous they are. I expect the best Madrid tomorrow.
    “They are a team that create chances, you could see that against Levante.
    “They created 10 clear goalscoring opportunities. That’s a clear indicator of the attacking quality they have.”

  • La Liga: Madrid approach Conte over Lopetegui replacement

    Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been approached by representatives of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez over his availability, according to Sky sources.
    Conte is Perez’s first choice to replace current head coach Julen Lopetegui should he be sacked from his role at the Bernabeu.
    Lopetegui was appointed Zinedine Zidane’s successor in June but already finds himself under pressure after winning just six of his 13 games in charge of the club.
    Perez’s representatives have made contact with Conte, who has been away from football since he was replaced by compatriot Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea in July.
    Sky sources understand the former Italy manager rejected the chance to join Real Madrid last summer in order to take a break from football following his departure from Stamford Bridge.
    However, it is understood Conte is now ready to return to management if Real Madrid want him.
    Madrid director Emilio Butragueno has confirmed Lopetegui will still be in charge for the El Clasico clash with Barcelona on Sunday.
    A defeat to their arch rivals would leave Madrid seven points adrift of the Catalan club after only 10 games in La Liga.

  • Troubled Madrid boss Lopetegui vows to fight on

    Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui says he is going to “fight” to turn around the club’s faltering form but could not say whether he would still be in a job for the trip to Barcelona on Sunday.

    Lopetegui is under pressure following Real’s run of four defeats in five games.
    “Results haven’t been great but we are going to turn this around,” he said.
    Real face Czech side Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Tuesday before the weekend’s El Clasico.
    “What I’ve learned about this club is to fight, that is the DNA of this club,” Lopetegui said.
    “That’s what we’re going to do, fight, both the players and the coaching staff.”

    Is Lopetegui blaming his players?

    Lopetegui took over the Bernabeu club after leaving his job in charge of Spain on the eve of the 2018 World Cup.
    Under him, Real have made their worst start to a season since 2001-02, with 14 points from a possible 27.
    His side’s poor run in their last five outings has included a Champions League group game defeat by CSKA Moscow.
    They also lost to Levante last time out in a league defeat that left them seventh in La Liga and four points behind rivals Barcelona.
    Asked if he knew that he would be in the dug-out when Madrid visit Camp Nou this weekend, Lopetegui said: “I’m here now, that’s all I can say. I am the coach at this moment.
    “If you ask me what is going to happen in a month or a year, I can’t tell you. We’re focused on the present.”
    He added: “The players are strong.
    “They are champions not by coincidence, but because they are strong.
    “They have had bad times and bad moments but they have a lot of strength. They don’t get to be champions by believing everything they hear.”
    BBC

  • La liga: Madrid suffer fourth defeat in five games

    Real Madrid suffered their fourth loss in five games and set an unwanted record with a defeat by Levante at the Bernabeu.

    The result put further pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui, whose side remain fifth in La Liga, three points behind leaders Alaves and a point behind Barcelona, who have yet to play.
    Lopetegui’s side were stung twice inside 13 minutes when first Jose Luis Morales and then Roger Marti, from the spot, scored.
    Real produced several great chances, with the woodwork and great saves from Oier Olazabal coming to the rescue for the visitors.
    The final line of defence was finally breached in the 72nd minute when Marcelo fired a rocket past the Levante stopper – that ended a run of 482 minutes of scoring, although it came 17 minutes too late to prevent them from breaking the mark set back in 1985.
    Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno backed coach Lopetegui in the lead-up to the match, but with an important game in the Champions League coming up and El Clasico next weekend, there could be renewed pressure for the Los Blancos chiefs to act.
    Mid-table Levante seemed the perfect opponent to face, but with a front-line led by the precocious Jose Luis Morales, the visitors had no intention of playing for a point.

    Varane at fault for both Levante goals

    They attacked from the first whistle and took the lead with only six minutes on the clock. Morales kept his eyes on Sergio Postigo’s long ball, as Raphael Varane failed to, took the ball around keeper Thibaut Courtois and slotted in.
    It was soon 2-0. Frenchman Varane was at fault again, when he handled inside the area. The referee initially gave a free-kick before VAR ruled the defender had handled in the area. Marti fired in the penalty to leave the home support stunned and Lopetegui crestfallen.
    VAR also ruled out goals scored by Real’s Marco Asensio and Mariano.
    And when Levante’s attack was not causing problems for Real, their keeper Oier was frustrating them at the other end.
    Oier, who conceded nine goals playing for Granada at the Bernabeu in 2015, pushed a Casemiro header on to the bar, blocked Lucas Vasquez’s point-blank shot with his foot and pushed away Gareth Bale’s free-kick.
    Both Bale and striker Karim Benzema had been brought on in the second half, but it was veteran full-back Marcelo who made the breakthrough when he smacked an effort past Oier 18 minutes from time.
    Real tried their utmost to find a second, but Levante’s impressive defence held out for a memorable win.
    BBC

  • Why I must leave Chelsea – Hazard

    Why I must leave Chelsea – Hazard

    Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard says he will not move to Real Madrid in January, but agrees he might need to leave Chelsea to win the Ballon d’Or.

    The 27-year-old attacker said earlier this month that joining Real had been his “dream since I was a kid”.
    Asked if he needed to play in Spain to win the game’s top individual awards, Hazard smilingly replied “that’s why I want to go, maybe”.
    The Belgian denied he would move in the January transfer window, however.
    Hazard’s contract at Stamford Bridge expires in June 2020 and reports in Spain claim Real Madrid are hopeful that Chelsea may sell at the end of this season for £70m rather than risk losing their star player a year later.
    Real signed Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea in August for a reported £35m as the goalkeeper’s contract entered its final year.
    Hazard is the Premier League’s top scorer with seven goals so far this season. That is as many goals as Real Madrid as a whole have scored in La Liga this term, with the European champions apparently struggling to adapt to life under new manager Julen Lopetegui and without forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved to Juventus in July.
    Hazard, who was shortlisted for the men’s award at the recent Fifa Best awards but failed to make the top three, was asked if he was the best player in the world on form. “Yes,” he replied.
    The forward has been at Chelsea since signing from Lille in 2012, scoring 76 goals in 216 league appearances.

  • Gareth Bale among first five Ballon d'Or nominees

    Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale is among the nominees for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or award.

    Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and striker Sergio Aguero are also contenders, as are Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and forward Robert Firmino.
    The 30-man list of nominees will be revealed throughout the day.
    The Ballon d’Or, a prestigious award presented since 1956, is given to the best player of the year.
    The ceremony to announce the winner will take place in Paris on 3 December, when a women’s award will be presented for the first time.
    Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Juventus from Real Madrid in the summer, won last year’s Ballon d’Or and is again a contender.
    Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and keeper Thibaut Coutois, and Paris St-Germain attacker Edinson Cavani are the other nominees to have been named so far.

    What is the Ballon d’Or?

    The Ballon d’Or has been awarded by France Football every year since 1956, with former England international Sir Stanley Matthews the first winner.
    The list is compiled by the editorial staff of the French publication, with the winner voted for by journalists from around the world, with one representative per nation.
    For six years it combined with world football’s governing body to become the Fifa Ballon d’Or.
    However, Fifa ended its association with the award in September 2016.
    At Fifa’s awards in September, Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was named the world’s best male player, while Brazil and Orlando Pride forward Marta won the best female player award.

    Ballon d’Or winners: Ronaldo & Messi dominate since 2008
    2008 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Fernando Torres
    2009 Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Xavi
    2010 Lionel Messi Andres Iniesta Xavi
    2011 Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Xavi
    2012 Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Andres Iniesta
    2013 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Franck Ribery
    2014 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Manuel Neuer
    2015 Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Neymar
    2016 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Antoine Griezmann
    2017 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Neymar

    BBC

  • Champions League: Madrid suffer shock loss to CSKA Moscow

    Champions League: Madrid suffer shock loss to CSKA Moscow

    European champions Real Madrid fell to a surprise Champions League defeat by CSKA Moscow in Russia.

    Toni Kroos gifted the hosts their goal in the second minute with a terrible backpass that was picked up by Nikola Vlasic, on loan from Everton, and he fired past Keylor Navas from just inside the penalty area.
    Karim Benzema, Casemiro and Mariano hit the woodwork for Real, as the Spanish side, without the injured Gareth Bale, pushed for an equaliser.
    CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was sent off four minutes into injury time for two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent.
    Nevertheless, the hosts held on to move to the top of Group G above Real, who dropped down to second.
    Roma beat Viktoria Plzen 5-0 in the other group game, but Real stay above them on head-to-head record courtesy of their 3-0 win over the Italian side two weeks ago.

  • No deadline day moves for Real Madrid – Lopetegui

    No deadline day moves for Real Madrid – Lopetegui

    Real Madrid Coach Julen Lopetegui says he does not expect the club to make any deadline day moves ahead of the transfer window closing later on Friday.

    The European champions, who sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in July, have been quiet in the transfer market by their usual standards.

    They have not made a ‘Galactico’ signing despite media reports linking them to a host of names, including Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Paris St Germain’s Neymar.

    “The squad is complete, and we’re happy with the players we’ve got, that are all that matters.

    “With Mariano’s arrival it’s all done and dusted. There won’t be any last minute moves and we’re happy with that,” Lopetegui told a news conference.

    This year the Premier League’s transfer window shut before the English top flight season got underway and Lopetegui said he would be in favour of a similar setup in Spain.

    “It’s my belief that the window should close earlier so we can focus on reality, on what we have to do it wouldn’t be a bad thing but it’s not the case at the moment,” he said.

    Real completed a clean sweep of the individual prizes at UEFA’s awards ceremony in Monaco on Thursday, with keeper Keylor Navas.

    Defender Sergio Ramos and midfielder Luka Modric all named the best players in their positions for last season. Modric was also named the overall player of the year.

    Ronaldo, too, was rewarded for the form he showed with the club last season, although he did not attend the ceremony.

    Real host local rivals Leganes at the Bernabeu on Saturday, with new signing Mariano set to be named in the squad following his return to the club from Olympique Lyonnais.

    Navas, meanwhile, is expected to retain his place in goal ahead of Thibaut Courtois, who signed from Chelsea in the close season.

    “We’ll see tomorrow who starts, but I’ve got maximum confidence in all my goalkeepers. “Only one can play but that doesn’t mean I don’t believe in the other.

    “We’re relaxed about it and the fact is we have good options in that position,” he said.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Luka Modric clinch 2018 UEFA Player of the Year award

    Luka Modric clinch 2018 UEFA Player of the Year award

    Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric has been voted 2018 UEFA Player of the Year over Mohamed Salah and former team mate Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the award on Thursday in Monaco.

    The World Cup finalist dedicated the award to his father, who took him to his first ever training session as a kid.

    Modric, a UEFA Champions League winner, a FIFA World Cup runner-up and recipient of the FIFA Golden Ball.

  • La liga: Bale inspires Real Madrid to comeback win

    Gareth Bale scored for the second successive La Liga game as Real Madrid came from behind to beat Girona.

    The Catalan hosts took the lead when Borja Garcia rifled home from 12 yards before Sergio Ramos equalised with a penalty after Marco Asensio was fouled.

    Real edged ahead through another penalty won by Asensio – this time taken by Karim Benzema – before Bale’s composed finish from Isco’s pass.

    Bale turned provider to set up Benzema to make it 4-1 from close range.

    The 29-year-old Wales forward also scored in Real’s first La Liga game under Julen Lopetegui last week – a 2-0 win over Getafe at the Bernabeu Stadium.

    Girona, who finished 10th in their first season in La Liga, won the corresponding fixture last season 2-1.

    And there were signs of another surprise when Garcia finished well after Real’s defence had allowed him too much space.

    There were few complaints about either penalty – Marc Muniesa guilty of lunging into Asensio before Pere Pons’ badly timed challenge on Real’s number 20.

    Bale provided the goal of the match after Isco’s lovely pass before Benzema sealed the points 10 minutes from time.

    BBC